Conversation recording/playback method in a key phone system

• US 5,544,231 A
• Filed: 04/28/1994
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Seung-Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSANG, FAN S
• Application Number:
  US08/233,417
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/34, 379/196, 379/203, 379/204, 379/70, 379/75, 379/156, 379/157, 379/158, 379/165
• US Class Current: 379/88.24
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/002 with subscriber controlled access to a line, i.e. key telephone systems

Abstract

A method of recording and playing back a telephone conversation in a key phone system. To initiate recording during a telephone conversation, a subscriber enters a start recording code by depressing predetermined buttons/keys on his telephone. The conversation is then recorded by a conversation recording unit until the initiating subscriber either enters an end recording code or hangs up the telephone. The recorded conversation and a recording time are then stored to a memory portion. To playback the recorded conversation, the subscriber enters a playback code on his telephone. The recorded conversation is played back to the subscriber until either its recording time has elapsed or the subscriber hangs up his telephone.

Claims

1. A conversation recording method in a key phone system comprising a timer circuit for generating time data indicative of a current time, a conversation recording unit for recording voice data and time data from a conversation between two subscribers within said key phone system, and a conference circuit for establishing a call among said two subscribers and said conversation recording unit, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing said call among a first subscriber that enters a start-recording code, a second subscriber connected to said first subscriber via a telephone line within said key phone system, and said conversation recording unit, said call established in response to entry of said start-recording code by said first subscriber;

selecting one of a plurality of memory units within said conversation recording unit that corresponds to said first subscriber to store first voice data from a conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber and first time data representative of a time duration of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber;

recording said first voice data from said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in said one of said plurality of memory units within said conversation recording unit that corresponds to said first subscriber;

ending recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in response to an end-recording code entered by said first subscriber;

recording said first time data representative of said time duration of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in said one of said plurality of memory units within said conversation recording unit that corresponds to said first subscriber; and

then terminating said call.

2. The conversation recording method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of ending recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber is further performed in response to hanging up a handset of a telephone corresponding to said first subscriber.

3. A conversation playback method in a key phone system comprising a conversation recording unit for recording and playing back voice data from recorded conversations between subscribers within said key phone system, said method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a recorded conversation corresponding to a first subscriber requesting playback exists when said first subscriber removes a handset of a telephone within said key phone system from its hook and enters a playback code;

transferring a message to said first subscriber indicating that no said recorded conversation corresponding to said first subscriber exists when no said recorded conversation corresponding to said first subscriber exists;

playing back said recorded conversation corresponding to said first subscriber from said conversation recording unit while checking whether a time duration of said recorded conversation corresponding to said first subscriber has elapsed when said recorded conversation corresponding to said first subscriber exists; and

ending playback of said recorded conversation corresponding to said first subscriber when said time duration of said recorded conversation corresponding to said first subscriber has elapsed.

4. The conversation playback method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said ending playback step is further performed when said first subscriber hangs up the handset of the telephone.

5. A conversation recording/playback method in a key phone system comprising a timer circuit for generating time data indicative of a current time, a conference circuit for establishing a call, and a conversation recording unit for recording and playing back voice data from conversations between subscribers within said key phone system, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing said call among a first subscriber that enters a start-recording code, a second subscriber connected to said first subscriber via a telephone line within said key phone system, and said conversation recording unit, said call established in response to entry of said start-recording code by said first subscriber;

recording first voice data from a conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in said conversation recording unit;

ending recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in response to an end-recording code entered by said first subscriber;

storing a recording time indicative of a first time duration of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in said conversation recording unit, and then terminating said call;

determining whether a recorded conversation corresponding to a third subscriber within said key phone system requesting playback exists in said conversation recording unit when said third subscriber removes a telephone within said key phone system corresponding to said third subscriber from its hook and enters a playback code;

transferring a message to said third subscriber indicating that no said recorded conversation corresponding to said third subscriber exists when no said recorded conversation corresponding to said third subscriber exists in said conversation recording unit;

playing back said recorded conversation corresponding to said third subscriber from said conversation recording unit while checking whether a second time duration of said recorded conversation corresponding to said third subscriber has elapsed when said recorded conversation corresponding to said third subscriber exists in said conversation recording unit; and

ending playback of said recorded conversation corresponding to said third subscriber when said second time duration of said recorded conversation corresponding to said third subscriber has elapsed.

6. The conversation recording/playback method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said step of ending recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber is further performed in response to said first subscriber hanging up a handset of a telephone within said key phone system corresponding to said first subscriber.

7. The conversation recording/playback method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said step of ending playback of said recorded conversation corresponding to said third subscriber is further performed in response to said third subscriber hanging up a handset of the telephone within said key phone system corresponding to said third subscriber.

8. A conversation recording method in a system comprising a timer circuit for generating time data indicative of a current time, a conference circuit for establishing a call and a conversation recording unit having voice memory means divided into a plurality of memory regions corresponding respectively to a plurality of subscribers within said system, each one of said plurality of memory regions having a separate mail box register for storing voice data from a recorded conversation between two of said plurality of subscribers within said system and recording time register for storing time data from the recorded conversation, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing said call among a first subscriber that enters a start-recording code, a second subscriber connected to said first subscriber via a telephone line within said system, and said conversation recording unit, said call established in response to entry of said start-recording code by said first subscriber;

assigning a first mail box register and a first recording time register to said first subscriber and storing an identification number corresponding to said first mail box register and said first recording time register, said first mail box register for storing first voice data from a conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber via said telephone line, said first recording time register for storing first time data representative of a time duration of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber;

assigning a start recording address indicating a beginning point within said voice memory means of the conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber, storing said first voice data from said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in said first mail box register and detecting a record start time indicating a time when recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber began;

ending the recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in response to an end-recording code entered by said first subscriber, detecting a record end time indicating a time when the recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber ends, and storing said first time data representative of the time duration of the conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in said first recording time register; and

then

terminating said call and driving said conversation recording unit to an idle state.

9. The conversation recording method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of ending the recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber is further performed in response to said first subscriber hanging up a handset of a telephone corresponding to said first subscriber.

10. A conversation playback method in a system comprising conversation recording unit having voice memory means divided into a plurality of memory regions corresponding respectively to a plurality of subscribers within said system, each one of said plurality of memory regions having a separate mail box register and recording time register for storing voice data from a recorded conversation and a time duration of the recorded conversation, respectively, said conversation recording unit also playing back stored voice data, and memory means for storing an identification number corresponding to each said mail box register and said recording time register of each one of said plurality of subscribers within said system, said method comprising the steps of:

reading a first number corresponding to a first mail box register and a first recording time register corresponding to a first subscriber requesting playback when said first subscriber removes a handset of a telephone corresponding to said first subscriber from its hook and enters a playback code;

determining whether a first recorded conversation corresponding to said first subscriber exists after reading said first mail box register and said first recording time register;

informing said first subscriber that said first recorded conversation corresponding to said first subscriber does not exist when said first mail box register and said first recording time register indicate initial values;

connecting a speech path via a telephone line within said system between said first subscriber and said conversation recording unit when said first mail box register and said first recording time register do not indicate initial values;

detecting a start recording address indicating a beginning point of said first recorded conversation within said voice memory means, playing said first recorded conversation back to said first subscriber via said telephone line while driving a timer and checking whether a first time duration of said first recorded conversation elapses;

ending playback of said first recorded conversation when said first time duration of said first recorded conversation elapses; and

then

driving said conversation recording unit to an idle state.

11. The conversation playback method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said step of ending playback of said first recorded conversation is further performed in response to said first subscriber hanging up the handset of the telephone corresponding to said first subscriber.

12. A conversation recording/playback method in a system comprising a timer circuit for generating time data indicative of a current time, a conference circuit for establishing a call, a conversation recording unit having voice memory means divided into a plurality of memory regions corresponding respectively to a plurality of subscribers within said system, each one of said plurality of memory regions having a separate mail box register and recording time register for storing voice data from a recorded conversation and a time duration of the recorded conversation, respectively, said conversation recording unit also playing back stored voice data, and memory means for storing an identification number corresponding to each said mail box register and said recording time register of each one of said plurality of subscribers within said system, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing said call among a first subscriber that enters a start-recording code, a second subscriber connected to said first subscriber via a telephone line within said system, and said conversation recording unit, said call established in response to entry of said start-recording code by said first subscriber;

assigning a first mail box register and a first recording time register to said first subscriber and storing a first identification number corresponding to said first mail box register and said first recording time register, said first mail box register for storing first voice data from a conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber via said telephone line, said first recording time register for storing a first recording time indicating a time duration of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber;

assigning a start recording address indicating a beginning point of the conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber within said voice memory means, storing said first voice data from said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in said first mail box register and detecting a record start time indicating a time when recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber began;

ending the recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in response to an end-recording code entered by said first subscriber, detecting a record end time indicating a time when the recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber ends, and storing said first recording time indicating the time duration of the conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in said first recording time register;

terminating said call and driving said conversation recording unit to an idle state;

reading said first identification number corresponding to said first mail box register and said first recording time register when said first subscriber removes a handset of a telephone corresponding to said first subscriber from its hook and enters a playback code;

determining whether said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber exists after reading said first mail box and said first recording time register;

connecting a speech path via said telephone line between said first subscriber and said conversation recording unit;

detecting said start recording address indicating said beginning point of the conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber within said voice memory means, playing said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber back to said first subscriber via said telephone line while driving a timer and checking whether the time duration of the conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber elapses;

ending playback of the conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber when said time duration of the conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber elapses; and

then

driving said conversation recording unit to said idle state.

13. The conversation recording/playback method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step of ending the recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber is further performed in response to said first subscriber hanging up the handset of the telephone corresponding to said first subscriber.

14. The conversation recording/playback method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step of ending playback of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber is further performed in response to said first subscriber hanging up the handset of the telephone corresponding to said first subscriber.

15. A conversation recording method in a system comprising a timer circuit for generating time data indicative of a current time, a conference circuit for establishing a call and a conversation recording unit having voice memory means divided into a plurality of memory regions corresponding respectively to a plurality of subscribers within said system, each one of said plurality of memory regions having a separate mail box register and recording time register for storing voice data from a recorded conversation and time data from the recorded conversation, respectively, said method comprising the steps of:

placing said call between a first subscriber and a second subscriber via a telephone line within said system on hold in response to a flash-hook procedure performed by said first subscriber momentarily depressing a receiver button on a telephone corresponding to said first subscriber;

establishing said call among said first subscriber, said second subscriber connected to said first subscriber via said telephone line, and said conversation recording unit, said call established in response to entry of a start-recording code by said first subscriber after the flash-hook procedure is performed;

restarting said call between said first subscriber and said second subscriber;

assigning a first mail box register and a first recording time register to said first subscriber and storing an identification number corresponding to said first mail box register and said first recording time register, said first mail box register for storing first voice data from a conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber occuring during said call between said first subscriber and said second subscriber, said first recording time register for storing first time data representative of a time duration of the conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber;

assigning a start recording address indicating a beginning point of the conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber within said voice memory means, storing said first voice data from said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in said first mail box register, and detecting a record start time indicating a time when recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber began;

ending the recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in response to an end-recording code entered by said first subscriber, detecting a record end time indicating a time when the recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber ends, and storing said first time data representative of the time duration of the conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber in said first recording time register; and

then

terminating said call and driving said conversation recording unit to an idle state.

16. The conversation recording method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said step of ending the recording of said conversation between said first subscriber and said second subscriber is further performed in response to said first subscriber hanging up a handset of the telephone corresponding to said first subscriber.

17. A conversation playback method in a system comprising a conversation recording unit having voice memory means divided into a plurality of memory regions corresponding respectively to a plurality of subscribers within said system, each one of said plurality of memory regions having a separate mail box register and recording time register for storing voice data from a recorded conversation and a time duration of the recorded conversation, respectively, said conversation recording unit also playing back stored voice data, and memory means for storing an identification number corresponding to each said mail box register and said recording time register of each one of said plurality of subscribers within said system, said method comprising the steps of:

reading a first identification number corresponding to a first mail box register and a first recording time register of a first subscriber requesting playback when said first subscriber removes a handset of a telephone corresponding to said first subscriber from its hook, performs a flash-hook procedure by momentarily depressing a receiver button on the telephone and enters a playback code;

determining whether a first recorded conversation corresponding to said first subscriber exists after reading said first mail box register and said first recording time register;

informing said first subscriber that said first recorded conversation does not exist when said first mail box register and said first recording time register indicate initial values;

connecting a speech path via a telephone line within said system between said first subscriber and said conversation recording unit when said first mail box register and said first recording time register do not indicate initial values;

detecting a start recording address indicating a beginning point of the first recorded conversation within said voice memory means, playing said first recorded conversation back to said first subscriber via said telephone line while driving a timer and checking whether a first time duration of the first recorded conversation elapses;

ending playback of the first recorded conversation when said first time duration of the first recorded conversation elapses; and

then

driving said conversation recording unit to an idle state.

18. The conversation playback method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said step of ending playback of said first recorded conversation is further performed in response to said first subscriber hanging up the handset of the telephone corresponding to said first subscriber.

19. An apparatus for recording and playing back conversations between subscribers in a system, said apparatus comprising:

a conversation recording unit having voice memory means divided into a plurality of memory regions corresponding respectively to a plurality of the subscribers within said system, each one of said plurality of memory regions comprising a mail box register for storing voice data from conversation corresponding to an individual one of the subscribers and a recording time register for storing a time duration of the conversation corresponding to said individual one of the subscribers;

a timer circuit for generating time data indicative of a current time, said timer circuit measuring time durations of the conversations between the subscribers; and

a conference circuit for establishing calls among first subscribers who initiate recording of the conversations, second subscribers who are speaking with corresponding said first subscribers via telephone lines in said system, and said conversation recording unit.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said voice memory means is partitioned such that each said mail box register and recording time register comprises an equal amount of data storage space.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said conversation recording unit further comprises:

serial-to-parallel conversion means for converting the voice data into parallel data;

buffer means for receiving said parallel data from said serial-to-parallel conversion means, temporarily storing said parallel data, and then supplying said parallel data to said voice memory means;

parallel-to-serial conversion means for receiving said parallel data from said voice memory means and converting said parallel data into serial data;

time-division assigning means for assigning time slots for the parallel and serial data converted by said serial-to-parallel conversion means and said parallel-to-serial conversion means, respectively, said time slots being assigned in response to a plurality of control signals; and

memory enable logic means for selectively enabling one of a read operation and a write operation of said voice memory means in response to said plurality of control signals.

22. An apparatus for recording and playing back conversations between subscribers within a phone system, said apparatus comprising:

a conversation recording unit having voice memory means divided into a plurality of memory regions corresponding respectively to a plurality of the subscribers within said phone system, each one of said plurality of memory regions comprising a mail box register for storing voice data from a conversation corresponding to an individual one of the subscribers and a recording time register for storing a time duration of the conversation corresponding to said individual one of the subscribers, said conversation recording unit further comprising;

serial-to-parallel conversion means for converting the voice data into parallel data;

buffer means for receiving said parallel data from said serial-to-parallel conversion means, temporarily storing said parallel data, and then supplying said parallel data to said voice memory means;

parallel-to-serial conversion means for receiving said parallel data from said voice memory means and converting said parallel data into serial data;

time-division assigning means for assigning time slots for the parallel and serial data converted by said serial-to-parallel conversion means and said parallel-to-serial conversion means, respectively, said time slots being assigned in response to a plurality of control signals; and

memory enable logic means for selectively enabling one of a read operation and a write operation of said voice memory means in response to said plurality of control signals;

a timer circuit for generating time data indicative of a current time, said timer circuit measuring time durations of the conversations between the subscribers; and

a conference circuit for establishing calls among first subscribers who initiate recording of the conversations, second subscribers who are speaking with corresponding said first subscribers via telephone lines in said phone system, and said conversation recording unit.